Quick-acting, self-locking fastener



Jan. 1, 1952 w. DZUS 2,580,666

QUICK-ACTING, SELF-LOCKING FASTENER driginal Filed March 10, 1948 2 SHEETSSHEET 1" 1 G 1 22 O /4- lo HEN I. /6 55 5 2- 2 7 I 54/ I I Hi; Ii lull: 1 "iii I FIG-7 11v VEN TOR fdilliam Dzus W. DZUS QUICK-ACTING, SELF-LOCKING FASTENER Jan. 1, 1952 I 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Original Filed March 10, 1948 'IN'VENTOR William Dzus ATT RNEY Patented Jan. 1, 1 952 Original application March 10, 1948, Serial No. 14,029, now Patent No. 2,564,101, dated August 14, 1951. Divided and this applicationoctober 4, 1949, SerialNo. 119,531 v L 1 Claim. (Cl. 24- 221) This invention relates to an improved fastener of the quick-acting, self-locking type.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved fastener of the above type which occupies or requires a relatively small amount of space for its installation; which is relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture and install; which has a relatively high ratio of strength to weight and bulk; and which can withstand 'repeated operation, vibration and long usage with a minimum of wear.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved fastener stud assembly in which the resilient or spring element is associated with the stud and in which the stud is installed and held in place in a new and improved manner.

This application is a division of my patent application Serial No. 14,029 filed March 10, 1948, for Fastener Receptacle, now U. S. Patent 2,564,101, dated August 14, 1951.

In the accompanying drawings,

- Fig. 1 is an elevational view, in section, of a fastener embodying my invention showing two fastener stud assemblies in association with a fastener receptacle of the strip or gang type;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of one of the stud assemblies showing the supporting plate in section; r

Fig. 3 is an exploded view showing the com-'- ponent parts of the stud assembly;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view partly broken away showing a portion of the strip or gang receptacle;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fi ure 4.

Fig. 6 is an exploded viewshowing the component parts of the receptacle; and

Fig. 7 is a sectional view in elevation showing a modified type of fastener.

Referring to the first six figures of the dra lngs, my fastener consists generally of a stud assembly l0 and a receptacle H which are releasably engageable with each other so as t secure two parts together.

In Fig. 1, a pair of stud assemblies in are shown as holding a cover plate l2 attached to the side wall [3 of a box, supporting frame or other structure. Each of the stud assemblies consists 50 by serving to firmly hold the assembly in place.

of a stud l4 surrounded by a helical spring and partially encased by a retaining cup It.

The stud is of the spiral cam type generally similarto that shown in my Patent No. 1,955,740 and has a shank portion I! having a tubular lower end. formedwith a pair of similar oppositely disposed spiral cam slots 18 extending inwardly from the lower end and terminating in a locking portion. The upper end of the shank is provided with a head l9 which in turn may have a screw driver slot 20 or other operating means.

The helical spring I5 is of such a diameter as to accommodate the shank of the stud but is smaller in diameter than the head of the stud. When assembled, the spring surrounds the shank of the stud beneath the head, as shown.

The cup is slightly larger in diameter than the head of the stud and normally surrounds the head, the spring and the upper portion of the shank. An aperture large enough to accommodate the shank is provided in the lower portion of the cup, and an attaching flange 2| depends downwardly from the aperture. Prior to assembly, the cup is formed as shown in Fig. 3.

' Upon assembly, as previously stated, the spring surrounds the upper portion of the shank beneath the head. The lower portion of the shank is then projected through the aperture and the flange in the lower'portion of the retaining cup, and the parts are telescoped together until the head of the stud is disposed within the cup. The

' As a matter of fact, the spring may be of slightly greater length than required so that it is normally in pre-loaded condition when in unlocked position. g

In attaching the assembly to a part such as the plate 12, an aperture 23, large enough to accommodate the'flange 2 l, is first formed therein. The lower end of the stud is then projected through the aperture and flange 2i is inserted therein. The lower end of the flange is then flared outwardly as shown at 24, in Fig. 1, there- The receptacle H is of the strip or gang type and'may be machined, cast or extruded from metal or other suitable material. It is in the form of an elongated having a depending tion of the platen and the backing plate is a slot 29 in which is disposed an elongated wire or rod 30 which, it should be noted, extends centrally through the apertures 28 providing a series ot cross bars or looking bars for engagement with the spiral slots [8 of the stud. The rod or who may be staked or otherwise secured in place as indicated in 3|, Fig. 5.

In using the device, the fastener assembly is first secured in place on the cover or removable part l2 in the manner previously d scribed. The receptacle H is then attached to the fixed part as by means of rivets 21. In this connection, the receptacle should be so arranged that ,the platen is at or near the upper edge of the wall l3 so that the cover rests thereon. The stud ll may then be projected into one of the apertures 28. Due to the fact that a plurality of apertures 28 are provided in closely spaced r l i hip, ens e ment may be made at any one or more of a plurality of points.

In Fig. 1, the plate I2 is illustrated as provided with two stud assemblies. The shanks of the studs project into two of the apertures. {The stud shown at the leitis in unlocked position the stud at the right is in locked position.

The parts should be so proportioned and arranged that when the stud is unlocked, the rod or wire 3E5 will rest in the entrance portions of the slots 18. This is clearly shown on the left hand side of Fig. l in which the lower portion oi the shank of the stud has been sectioned. When disposed in this relationship, the rotation of the stud, in a clockwise direction, causes the stud to be drawn downwardly by the camming action between slots is and the wire or rod until the wire is looked in the terminal portions of the slots as shown at the right hand side of Big. 1.

When fully locked, the head of the stud is spaced downwardly beneath the top of the. retaining cup, and the helical spring [5 ispartially compressed. The action of the spring against the head of the stud serves to lock the ends of the slots with respect to the rod or wire and to hoid the stud in locked position.

The fastener may be readily opened by simply rotating the stud for approximately a quarter turn in a counterclockwise direction.

The fastening device, as shown and described herein, is thus composed of a relatively few number of parts that can be readily assembled. Each unit, i. e. the stud assembly and receptacle, is a complete self-contained unit and is easy to install. The stud assembly is very compact, andit will be seen that the stud is retained place in a novel and effective manner. The receptacle is or the strip or gang type and permits engggg, ment or attachment at any one or more of a number of points. The fastener requires a minimum amount of space for its installation.

In Fig. 7, I have shown a modified fastener consisting of a stud assembly Alland areceptacle 4 Th m a s m ists of .astud 4;! simi, lar to thestud l4. a helical spring 45' similar to the spring l5 and a retaining cup it somewhat similar to the retaining cup 16. However, the attaching flange 2| at the lower portion has been omitted. The stud assembly is shown in Fig. 7 as applied to a relatively thick panel made of wood or other similar material. This is accomplished by forming an aperture in the panel and countersinking the retaining cup 46, therein providing a good driving or friction fit.

The receptacle 4| consists of a tubular cup having a central opening or aperture large enough ,to accommodate the shank of the stud and provided with a cross bar or looking bar 48. The receptacle is also shown as applied to a relatively thick panel 49 made of wood or similar material. this eonnection, the receptacle should have a driving or friction fit with an aperture formed therein. To keep the receptacle from rotating, the outer surface may be knurled as shown at 50.

Beneath the .cup 46 and above the receptacle 4| the panels 47 and 49 are provided with apertures large enough to accommodate the shank of the stud. The panels are placed in position with 1 the apertures in registry, with the result that the lower portion of the shank of the stud enters into the receptacle 4!, and the cross bar 43 will rest in the entrance portions of the slots of the stud in the same manner as shown in the left hand portion of Fig. 1 in the first form of my invention.

When the stud is rotated a quarter turn in a clockwise direction, it assumes the locked position shown in Fig. '7, and the force exerted by the spring against the head of the stud serves to retain the parts in locked relationship. Rotation of the stud, aquarter turn in acounter-clockwise direction, serves to release or open the fastener.

The fastener shown in Fig. '7 embodies all of the advantages of the first form of my invention with the exception that a separate or individual receptacle is utilized in place of a strip or gang receptacle.

Modifications may be made the illustrated and described embodiments of the'i-nvention .without departing from the invention as set forth in the accompanying claim.

I claimf In a quick-acting fastening device for securing two parts together of the type in which a stud member is engageable with a receptacle member upon the rotation of one with respect to another, a fastener stud assembly comprising a stud having a shank portion with an enlarged circular drical retaining cup but large enough to permit insertionof the spiral cam fastening means therethrough and surrounding the shank of the stud forattaching the assembly to a paraand a helical spring of smaller diameter than the head sunrounding the'shank of the stud and disposed inside the cup and extending between the base portion of the cup and the head of the stud so as tonormally force the head of the stud into contact .with the flange at the topof the cup.

WILLIAM ozo'sf REFERENCES crmn tile of this 'batent:

Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Dajgp Newcomb Aug. 23,---1927 Swanstrom Oct. 1251937 Kuhnel Jan. 16;.1'940 Chobert Oct. 1.,"1940 N m r Number Name Date Summers -1- Apr. 22, 1941 l l'athorn Aug. 12, 1941 Webb Sept. 23, 1941 Rogers Mar. 17, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Aug. 23, 1927 France Sept. 23, 1941 

